Device for mixing and kneading amalgam from mercury and alloy



C. W. MEGUIAR.

DEVICE FOR MIXING AND KNEADING AMALGAM FROM MERCURY AND ALLOY. Awucmou FILED FEB. 8.19:1.

1 $529,843 Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

2 SHEElS-SHEEI h C. W. MEGUIAR.

DEVICE FOR MIXING AND KNEADING AMALGAM FROM MERCURY AND ALLOY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 19!]. 1,329,843- Patented F61). 3, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WILBUR MEGUIAR, OFSONGRA, KENTUCKY.

DEVICE FOR MIXING AND KN EADIN Gr AMALGifB/I FROM MERCURY1AND ALLOY.

Application filed February 8., 1912.

ing at Sonora, in the county of Hardinand State of Kentucky, have invented "certain new and useful improvements in Devices for Mining and Kneading Amalgam from Men cury and Alloy, of which the following is a. specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to devices for mixing; or kneading mercury and alloys to form an amalgam suitable for dental use.

The invention further relates to a novel method of forming dental amalgam by a mixture of mercury and alloy.

In the formation 01: What are known as anilalgam fillings for the use of dentists in lillin g' toota cavities, it is the practice to mix mercury and dental alloy in What are considered proper relative proportions, and as ll'llXOCl, to subject the mass to a. kneading or mulling treatment until the mass attains the properstate or condition for packing the same into the tooth cavity. Unless properly mixed or kneaded, an imperfect and unsatisfactory product oftentimes results, ma Ag impossible a proper filling for the preservation of the treated tooth.

All prior methods of forming dental amalgg ams With which I am familiar have involved hand manipulation, and considerable guess-Work on the part ot the operator as to the character of treatment, duration of treatment, etc, of the mercury and alloy, to

obtain the desirable product and a resultant,

satisfactory filling. i'it best, the practice of mixing and kneading the mercury and alloy mass heretofore in vogue has been an unnecessary time consuming and expensive proposition, involving considerable skill, care, and manipulation on the part of the operator to obtain a satisfactory amalgam.

That practice which is quite general, be ing accepted as the most satisfactory, 1s for the dentist to place in a mortar or the l1ke,

a quantity of i'ncrcury and alloy, and with,

the hand by the aid of a pestle, spatula or similar tool, mix, partially knead or spatulate the same until he considers the mixture ias attained the desirable consistency, when the product is properly kneaded or mulled to final condition. between the fingers of one hand and palm of the other.

Many objections have manifested themselves from the above practice, notably the un- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Febe3, 1920;.

Serial No. 147,510.

sanitary characteristics of treatment incident to hand manipulation, exposure of the miX- ture to contamination or impurities, the loss of time in the treatment, etc. It is a matter of common knowledge tliiat high grade alloys after exposure to air, becauseof the percentage of silyer which becomes superficially oxidized or tarnished on exposure, have little aliinity for mercury, especially if the alloy is exposed to dust, dirt or other lin purities, which'would prevent a proper balance of the ingredients constituting the amalgam, and it is one of the objects ofthe present invention to make possible a proper, thoroughly practical and entirelysatiStactory amalgam, through the medium of ieans substantially automatic in operation, leaving the hands of the operator free for other uses, during the formation of the amalgam.

It is" a further object of the invention to obviate substantially during and after the formation of the amal gam, and to overcome to a large extent any possibility'of dust, dirt or other foreignsuo stances becoming associated with the matealtogether contact of i the hands of the operator with the product in a tubularcontainer and to subjectsaid container to rapid agitation and preferably lengthwise reciprocation,

whereby the time tions of mixing, kneading and mulling of the amalgam to a finished state for application to thetooth is accomplished, and without the use of pest es, spatulas or the like, as ell as Without the, usual final knead ng 1n the I hands ofthe operator,

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of anovel and improved container or mixing tube for the mixture comprising the mercury and alloy, the con tainer being of a character to, in the manipulation thereof not only properly mix the ingredients but completely form the amalgam ready for use.

Another feature of the invention includes novel and improyed supporting means for the mixing container, as Well as novel and improved means for rapidly agitating said supportingframe and container.

The invention further includes means whereby the mixing tube or container may be readily assembled in place on the supporting frame and means for preventing accidental displacement or removal of the tube in the operation of forming the amalgam from the tube contents.

The invention further includes leans whereby the mixing tube or container may be readily assembled in place on the sup porting frame and means for preventing accidental displacement or rem ral of the tube in the operation of forming the amalgam from the tube contents.

The invention further includes means whereby the amalgam as formed in the mixing tube may be readily removed therefrom, without the use of scrapers or the like, frequently resorted to in the methods of amalgamating at present in use.

Another object of the invention is to make possible accurate and uniform treatments ofthe mixture to form dental amalgam, and to this end means is provided for positively agitating the mixing container with its contents in a uniform manner.

The invention further resides in a novel method of forming dental amalgams from mercury and alloy, which may be characterized as a method wherein a given quantity of mercury and alloy are placed within a container and subjecting the container to violent and rapid agitation, thereby causing a repeated alternating momentive actionof the material in the container.

The improved method may be further characterized as one wherein the mercury and alloy is placed within a container closed at opposite ends and subjected to rapid agitation in opposite directions lengthwise of the container to form a completed amalgam.

Other and further improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the device as well as novel steps in the method employed, will be appreciated irom the description to fol low, which for a clear understanding of the invention should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration, a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the apparatus which has been found to be entirely practical and useful in carrying out the method.

In the drawings 1" Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device with the operating arts inclosed.

Fig. :2 is a similar view with the front wall of the actuating mechanism r "noved, and the movable casing for the supporting mechanism the n ing tube or container removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of device complete.

Fig. 4 is transverse tially on the line i -4t of li.

the

Fig. 5 is a transrers section substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

With more particular reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 is a suitable back ground or support, which latter may take the form of an elongated wooden board adapted to be secured as by screws or bolts to a wall or the like, though in this connection, it is to be borne in mind that the parts to be presently described may be directly secured to a wall or the like. Removably mounted upon the support 1 as by screws 8 is a fixed supporting plate or frame a having outwardly projecting ends and 6 adapted to support therebetween guide wires or rods 7. Having sleeved engagement with said rods 7, is a vertically movable slidable carrying frame 8 havingoffset ends 9 and 10 respectively which said ends are adapted to receive opposed supports 11 and 12 respectively. The support 11 conveniently comprises a disk-shaped member having an annular flange to overlie the upper end of the mixing tube to be presently described,

yieldaole disk 13 of any suitable material being inserted at the base of the pocket formed by said annular flange and to enthe uaper edge of the mixing tube. T he support 11 is provided with a stem 1% having threaded. engagement with the recess in the offset flange 9 of the supporting e 55, the support 11 may be vertically adjusted at will to accommodate for variation in the lengths of the mixing tubes. The opposed support 12 conveniently has central conical recess 12' connecting with a. laterally extending recess 12, the recess 12 being adapted to form a seat for the lower conical end of the mixing tube to be described, and the laterally extending recess forn'iing a guide which in one position of the support 12 will assist in the assembling of the mixing tube between the opposed suppor s 11 and 12. The sup-.

port 12 also has a stem 15 having a threaded engagement with the wall surrounding an aperture in the offset part 10 of the support 8. The peripheries of the supports 11 and 12 are preferably roughened as illustrated more particularly in 2 whereby gage' respectively said roughened peripheries of the oppose-c. supports 11 and it is understood t rat the supporting frame pted to be moved vertically, and it able that when the machine is not in on, .d supporting fr? as be main.- tanien n a predetermined P05151031 to facilitate the application and removal of the mining tube or container, and thereby to peel tion the supporting frame and the container for observation when the movable casing for these parts to be described has been moved into open position. To accomplish this function, I preferably take advantage of a spiral spring or the like 17 secured at one end to the upper ofi'set terminal'b oi' the fixed support 4: and at itsoppos te end to an eye or the like 18 secured to the movable frame 8 adj acent the lower end thereof.

A suitable casing 18 is adapted to overlie the carrying or supporting frame for the container and its associated parts, the opposite sides of said casing forming tongues 18 adapted to slidably engage longitudinally extending recesses or grooves 18in the sides of the fixed support 4: and to be held by friction in adjusted positions. The said casing 18 is conveniently provided with a suitable operating handle or the like 19, and the downward movement of the casing is preferably limited by a suitable abutment 20. N hen the casing is in contact with the abutment 20, the movable supporting or carrying frame for the container will be exposed, as will be obvious whereas when the casing is in closed position or against the base of a case 32 to be described, the parts will be effectively protected against the entrance of dust, etc.

Any convenient driving mechanism may be employed for impart; reclprocating movement to the carrying rame 8, it being desirable that this movement bean exceedingly rapid one to obtain the best results. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention. herein, this driving means preferably takes. the form of a pitman rod 21 eecentrically mounted as bya pin 22 to a fly wheel 23. The pitman rod 21 at its lower end has a sleeved engagement 24 with a stub shaft 25 projecting outwardly from a projection of the support 8 above the otl'set flange oi said support. The terminal of the threaded extension 14- 01" the upper support 11 for the container conveniently overlies the sleeved engagement between the pitman rod and the stub shaft whereby to prevent accidental separation of the pitman rod from said "stub shaft and ivhereby also to prevent any accidental displetement or separation of the stub shaft itself. The counter balanced fly wheel is adapted to be rotated in any desired man nor and as illustrated the Sttll'lG is i'nountcd upon a shat 26 having a clutch member 27 and coupling sleeve 28 adapted for the reception of a cooperating clutch mem ber :29 on the rotatable'driven shaft of the ordinary dental engine, not necessary to illustrate in detail herein. Thefiy-wheel shaft is held in place in any desired manner as by lock nut 27 i I The mixing tube or container proper is indicated at 30, the same preferably being formed of'glass and oirelatively small diameter. The upper end of the tube is open whereas the lower end is closed and takes a conical form as illustrated 31. i The inner surface of the tube preferably tapers from a point adjacent the upper open end thereof to its conical base. I

It has been ascertained that by placing a proper proportional amount or mercury and alloy in a suitable container and subjecting Said COIltttlIlGl to rapid reciprocating movement,'ior instance, 1201) reeiprocations per minute, the amalgam may be completely formed in a very short interval of time. This speed of course may be'varied which in turn will vary the length of treatment. The movement of the receptacle will create a rapid momentive action in alternately opposite directions of the material which contacts with the end walls of the container. This movement will be with considerable force or momentum, therebyeonstantly re shaping the material and imparting thereto an action similar to, though considerably more accurate and effective than, the action between the usual pestle and mortar.

It has been ascertained that the peculiar shaping of the mixing tube 30, -z'. (2., the tapered walls thereof and the conical base, will impart a-wedgin'g action on tin: material. as it seeks the base of the container in the movement oi the latter, thereby creating in a short interval of time the necessary kneading or mulling action on the material.

If desired, suitable casing 32 maybe provided to overlie the drive wheel 23, the said casing being removably attached as at to the support 1 and having an aperture in its sidewall forthe reception of the drive shaft 26 andan aperture at its base to receive the pitman member 21.

The method and operation may briefly be reviewed as follows:

The casiingl8" having been lowered to expose the support 8, the operator adjusts the opposed supporting heads'll and 12 to the length of the container to be placed therebetween, the lower support 12 being at this time positioned with the lateral recess l2 arranged foremost. A proper proportion of mercury and alloy having been placed Within the container preferably by means of suitable measuring apparatus, such as illustrated and described in an application for Letters-Patent filed concurrently herewith, the upper end of the tube is placedinto engagement with suitable yieldable closure 13 in the annular recess provided in the lower surface of the upper support ll whereuponthe lower conical end of the container is guidedbv the recess 12" in'the lower support 12 into engagement with the central point of connection "with the i recess 1: of said support. The said support 12 is then given a rotatable movement upward which, because o1 the threaded engagement 1.5 will elevate the support 12 and cooperate with the upper support 11 to fixedly hold the container in place. This rotatable movement of the support 12 Wlll also position the guiding recess 12 rearmost, and because of the engagement with the knurled periphorv of the heads 11 and lQ by the spring member 16, these supporting members 11 and 12 will be iixed against accidental displacement. A suitable stop pin or the like on the lower head 12 may be used to engage the side spring 16 to positively limit the rotatable movement thereof. Power having been imparted to the drive sh 26 as by the engine shaft 29, said shait.

26 and the fly wheel :23 connected therewith will be rotated at a high rate or speed whereby through the medium of the pltman rod 2 1, the supporting frame 8 and the container carried thereby will be rapidly reciprocated thereby imparting to the material within the container rapid momentive action in alter nately opposite directions. As the material seeks the base of the container, it will be wedged into a conical shape or mass and as the same en; container for m ed by the member 18, the mass will flatten to be again reuhaped in the opposite movement thereof in the reciprocation of the container. The mass after thoroughly mixing it will be seen, will be constantly changed in shape and kneaded to a final amalgamated condition to be placer in the cavity or the tooth. When the op eration is complete, the lower supporting member 12 is rotated downward so as "to bring the recess 12 foremost and so as to slightly lower the member 12 with the result that the lower end of the container may be readily released from the recess 1:? and guide groove 12 by a lateral movement and separated from the upper support by a lowering movement. By inverting the detached receptacle 30 the amalgam will. readily fall out'of the open end of the tube, the tapering inner wall of the same assisting in the discharging action. Normally the casing 18 will remain in elevated position.

If it is desired to brlghten and improve the'color of the amalgam, a slight quantity of alcohol may beplaced into the mixing or amalgamating tube 30, together with the measured quantity of alloy and mercury when under the action of the tube the alcohol being agitated with the other materials will clearly cleanse the same and give to the product a brightened appearance.

What I claim is 1. A device for forming dental amalga from alloy and mercury comprising an elongated tube adapted to receive the mercury fies the opposite end of the and alloy, said tube having a chamber of relatively narrow cross section, and the inner surface of the tube being constructed to form a kneading surface, said tube being closed at its ends, and mechanical means for rapidly reciprocating the tube endwise, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. An agitating device for forming amalgam, from mercury and alloy comprising an elongated tube oi small diameter having a conical closed end approximating a point, whereby the inner surface oi" the tube constitutes a kneading surface, means for clos ing the opposite end thereof, and means for rapidly agitating said tube lengthwise whereby to mix and simultaneously knead the material.

,3. An agitating device for forming amalgains from mercury and alloy comprising an elongated movable tube having an integral closed lower end conical in shape, and an inner surface tapered inwardly from the upper end thereof to said conical end. i

.'l, An amalgamating device for mercury and alloy comprising an elongated tube hav ing a closed upper end, the inner wall of the tube being tapered inwardly toward the lower closed end thereof, and means for rapidly reciprocating the tube.

An amalgamating device for mercury and alloy comprising an elongated tube having a conical lower end, means for closing the upper end, and means for subjecting the tube to lengthwise reciprocatory movement at a high rate of speed whereby to mix and knead the material into an amalgam.

6. An amalgamating device of the character described comprising a reciprocating frame having opposed supporting heads, a tubular container supported between the heads, said container having a closed lower end and an open upper end, the head havin g means to close the upper end, the inner surface 01" the container gradually approaching a point, and means for rapidly reciprocating said frame.

7. An amalgamating device of the character described comprising a reciprocating frame having opposed supporting heads, a tubular containersupported between the heads, said container having a cone shaped lower end, the lower supporting head having in its upper surface a central recess and a connecting groove leading to the periphery thereof to receive the cone-shaped end, and the upper head having means for closin the upper end of the container.

8. An amalgamating device of the character described comprising a reciprocating frame having opposed supportingheads, a tubular container supported between the heads, said container having a cone-shaped lower end, the lower supporting head havmg a central recess to receive the coneshaped end, and a laterally extending recess to guide said lower end of the tube into said seat.

9. An amalgamating device of the character described comprising a reciprocating frame having opposed supporting heads, a tubular container supported between the heads, said container having a cone-shaped lower end, the lower supporting head having a central seat to receive the cone-shaped end, and a laterally extending recess to guide said lower end of the tube into said seat, said laterally extending recess being normally positioned foremost, and means whereby said lower head may be rotated to reposition said lateral recess and bring the heads into holding engagement with the tube.

'10. An amalgamating device of the character described comprising a reciprocating frame having opposed supporting heads, a tubular container supported between the heads, said container having a cone-shaped lower end, the lower supporting head having a central recess to receive the coneshaped end, and a laterally extending recess to guide said lower end of the tube into said seat, said laterally extending recess being normally positioned foremost, means whereby said lower head may be rotated to reposition said lateral recess and bring the heads into l'iolding engagement with the tube, and frictional holding means for the lower head to prevent accidental rotation.

11. In an amalgamating device of the character described, the combination of a reciprocating supporting frame having opposed heads, a tubular container to be positioned between the heads, said heads having screw threaded connection with the frame to permit of adjustment, and means preventing accidental rotation of the heads.

12. In an amalgamating device of the character described, the combination of a reciprocating supporting frame having opposed heads, a tubular container to be positioned between the heads, said heads having screw threaded connection with the frame to permit of adjustment, and means preventing accidental rotation of the heads comprising a spring member frictionally enaging both heads.

13. In an amalgamating device of the character described, the combination of a reciprocating supporting frame having opposed heads, a tubular container to be positioned between the heads, said container having a tapered wall constituting a kneading surface for the amalgam, and an inclosing casing for said frame and container.

1a. In an amalgamating device of the character described, the combination of a supporting frame having vertically spaced forwardly extending supports, opposed heads to engage a container therebetween, said heads having projections extending through apertures in the supports, a drive member, a pitman rod connected to said member, a stub shaft on the supporting frame above the upper head, said pitman rod having sleeved engagement with the stub shaft and the projection on the upper head constituting retaining means for the lower end of said pitman rod.

15. In an amalgamating apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination of a tubular container of small diameter having a closed lower end, means for supporting the container with the open end uppermost, closing means for the upper end of the container, and means for rapidly reciprocating said supporting means.- said container having an inner surface which tapers from the open upper end thereof to the lower end which lower end assumes approximately a pointed shape.

16. In an agitating amalgamating device the combination of a movable supporting frame comprising opposed supporting heads adapted to receive therebetween a container for mercury and alloy or the like, the lower head having a threaded engagement with the frame whereby to be elevatedinto contact with the container, and the upper support having closing means for the container, the lower head having a laterally extending guide groove adapted in one position of the head to be disposed foremost, and means for limiting the rotatable movement of said lower head.

signature.

CHARLES WILBUR MEGUIAR.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 

